Spain 

Public Transport 

In Spain, every city and town has its own system of tickets and discounts for travel on public transport. If rare tourist transport passes are not what you need, then you will find out that almost all transport companies, whether tram or bus companies, sell tickets, season tickets only for use in their company. Prices are relatively low, so if you are interested in traveling, then the calculation is very practical. We have tried to direct you along the shortest path to rational saving of money in the process of buying a travel ticket in Spain. These links will take you directly to the site of the transport company to buy a travel ticket in this city. This will help you find what you are interested in. These direct sites do not appear on the first pages of the Google search engine. There, the first pages are occupied by links to information monopolists selling tickets.

Metro and/or tram in Spanish cities

Madrid

To travel with Metro in Madrid, you need a transport card. The cards you can use in Metro are: Multi Card, Public Transport Card and Blue Card.

Multi Card

You can buy the Multi Card: 

  • On Metro’s automatic machines.

  • At tobacconists and other authorised points of sale.

You can buy the Multi Card with these tickets: For only 1 part of Metro, For various parts of Metro. 

These tickets are priced separately from the card. Single, 1 trip.
10 trips, on Metro and EMT buses. Combined Single, 1 trip. o 10 trips Combined.

To get to and from Adolfo Suárez-Barajas Airport:

Single + Supplement, for 1 trip
Combined Single + Supplement, for 1 trip o Supplement, for travellers with 10 trips.

Public Transport Card

You can buy the card at the Public Transport Card management offices. It’s a personal card, with your name and photo. On this card you can top up: Normal 30-day transport passes, 30-Day transport passes with discounts for disabled people or large families, Single and 10-trip tickets.The 30-day pass allows you to travel on Metro, bus and suburban trains for 30 consecutive days. There is also a transport pass for a whole year, called a yearly transport pass.

Blue Card 

The Blue Card is personal and has your name and photo. It is a 30-day pass only for Metro within zone A, ML1 of Metro Ligero and buses in Madrid. Not valid for Renfe’s suburban trains and intercity buses. This card is for people over 65 years old and people with disabilities who have lower incomes and are registered in the city of Madrid. When in doubt about the card or ticket you need, ask Metro staff at the stations. 

These cards can be topped up at: Automatic machines at Metro stations, Tobacconists, Some of Bankia's signposted ATMs.

Card top-up machines

There are machines at all metro stations where you can top up your Multi Card and Public Transport Card.

Here is an explanation of each number in the image:
For single, 10-trip and Multi Card tickets. It accepts payment in banknotes and coins, as well as a debit or credit card.
For all types of cards and tickets. It accepts payment in banknotes and coins, as well as a debit or credit card.

To use them, you need to touch the screen with your finger.
You can top up different types of tickets on your personal card or on your Multi Card.

All machines are adapted for the visually impaired.
A voice from the machine asks you to insert your card into the slot. Then a display appears where you can select the ticket you want to buy.

The Metro network fare zones

The Metro network is divided into different zones that you should take into account when topping up your card with tickets:

  • Zone A:  It includes Metro de Madrid and Metro Ligero ML1.

  • Zone B1:       MetroEste: on line 7, from Barrio del Puerto to Hospital del Henares. o MetroNorte: on line 10, from La Granja to Hospital Infanta Sofía. Part of MetroSur: the stations on line 12 in Alcorcón, Getafe and Leganés. These stations are also included:

▪ Line 10: Joaquín Vilumbrales and Puerta del Sur. ▪ Line 11: La Fortuna.

    Part of TFM: on line 9, from Rivas-Urbanizaciones to Rivas Futura.

    Metro Ligero ML2.      Part of Metro Ligero ML3: from the Colonia        Jardín  stop to Ventorro del Cano.

  • Zone B2:

  • Zone B3:
    Part of TFM: on line 9, from La Poveda to Arganda del Rey.

Metro de Madrid official applications

The Metro app aims to improve service information and the passenger experience. It is available for both Android and iOS and displays information in several languages.

Through the app you can get information about: 

  • The waiting time at your nearest station.
  • The waiting time for the following trains at any station in the network.
  • The stations closest to your location.
  • The state of the facilities.
  • The network map and the tourist map.
  • Calculating the best route by metro and other transport.
  • The state of circulation.
  • The services of a station.
  • Information on fares, passes, tickets, opening hours, contact and access with bikes and dogs.
  • The balance of your TTP and Multi card by NFC, in this case only on Android devices.
  • News.
  • Communicate warnings about station and train cleaning and about damage to furniture and signage.
  • Save your favourite stations.

Barcelona 

Barcelona public transport tickets: there are a huge choice. Choosing the right ticket before you travel will save you time and money.

Here are some public transport tickets in Barcelona:

- Single ticket
With a single ticket you can, for example, travel on the TMB city bus and/or use the metro.
The price of a single ticket is 2.55 euros. You can buy it from ticket machines.

Single tickets from the local transport companies TMB and FGC in Barcelona are not valid on the metro and airport train lines.

A single ticket does NOT entitle you to use the metro to/from the airport. You need to buy an additional ticket called an “airport ticket”, which costs 5.50 euros (one way) or 11 euros (round trip).

“Hola BCN!” 2-5 day travel card - One ticket for almost all local transport
Unlimited travel on bus, metro, tram, commuter train + metro to/from the airport

You don’t have to deal with the fares and ticketing systems of Barcelona’s 5 transport companies.

The “Hola BCN” card gives you unlimited travel on the metro, city buses (TMB), trams, regional rail (Rodalies de Catalunya, zone 1), urban rail (FGC, zone 1) and funicular (Funicular de Montjuïc). You can buy your ticket online 

With the Hola BCN card, you can travel to and from the airport by train or metro without having to pay extra or buy an additional ticket.
This means that you do not have to pay an extra 11 euros for a return metro ticket.

Fares and prices for the Hola BCN travel card (2024):
2-day validity: €17.50
3-day validity: €25.50
4-day validity: €33.30
5-day validity: €40.80

Tram

In Spain, modern tram networks have been opened

in Alicante, Barcelona (Trambaix and Trambesòs), Bilbao, Madrid, Murcia, Parla, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Seville, Valencia, Vélez-Málaga, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Zaragoza. 

Bus

Bus companies in Spain. The Spanish bus network is linked by a combination of bus operating companies that serve routes within and around Spain. Below is a selection of some of the major companies you could be travelling with during your trip. 

Train

Rail transport in Spain is provided by a variety of private and public operators. Most railways are operated by Renfe; Renfe Cercanías AM. Local public operators include Euskotren in the Basque Country, FGC in Catalonia and Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca in the Balearic Islands. Private rail operators include Ouigo and Iryo.

Renfe 

App

Renfe Spain Pass

The Renfe Spain Pass allows you to choose the number of train journeys, the type of seat, as it does not have a predetermined departure or destination.

The pass, intended for people living outside Spain, is personal and non-transferable.

At the time of purchase, you can choose the number of journeys (4, 6, 8 or 10) and the type of seat: Standard or Comfort.
You can use your Renfe Spain Pass on all national Larga Distancia - long-distance trains, including AVE, high-speed trains, and regional trains Media Distancia - medium distance, and Avant - medium distance, high-speed - with seat reservations. 
You have up to 6 months from the date of purchase to make your first journey. You have one month after this first journey for using pass in full. Within a month, you must use the full number of trips specified in the pass.
The pass can be cancelled within 24 hours of purchase free of charge. After 24 hours of purchase and if it has not been used, it can be cancelled with an additional fee of 15%.

 

If you buy a Eurail Pass to travel around Europe, keep in mind that in Spain, in case of a large number of passengers on the train, you must reserve a seat on the train in advance. Otherwise, you will only be provided with a standing place on the train. Reservation of a seat, even with a Eurail Pass, is paid. Reservations can be bought in Spain online and at the station.

Eurail passes offer unrivalled flexibility – even with a seat reservation system. It’s not exactly hop-on, hop-off, but it’s the best thing there is.

Cercanías commuter trains don’t require seat reservations, making travel super easy. Just hop on and show your Eurail pass.

Price of seat reservation / not the price of the ticket for travel

Ouigo company 

OUIGO is the low-cost rail offer that has changed travel! OUIGO is now part of everyday life for travellers in Spain and France. OUIGO carries millions of travellers to almost 60 destinations in Spain and France. Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Tarragona, Zaragoza, Cuenca, Segovia, Valladolid, Alicante and Albacete... as well as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Nantes.

OUIGO, the low-cost train service operates the best high-speed trains so passengers can easily travel throughout Spain. Fixed fares at €8 for children and from €16 for adults! 

Renfe Cercanias app

High speed Rail network in Spain 

High speed Rail network from Spain 

Ferry

You can book a ferry to 33 ports in Spain from 9 countries or geographic areas. There are 97 ferry routes serving Spain operated by 12 ferry companies. The most popular ferry to Spain route from the UK is Porstmouth to Santander.

Whether you are looking to book a ferry ticket to Spain from the UK or are looking for ferries in Spain that will connect you to one of the popular Spanish islands such as Majorca or Tenerife, we will do everything we can to accommodate your needs. Booking a ferry ticket online with Ferries Spain gives you the opportunity to make the most of your sea crossing. Choose from a wide range of ferry routes with Ferries Spain.

Spanish Ferry Routes

 - Alcudia (Mallorca, Balearic Islands)

- Barcelona (Catalonia)
- Ciutadella (Menorca, Balearic Islands)
- Toulon (France)

 Algeciras (Southern Spain)
-   Ceuta  (Spanish autonomous exclave in Morroco)
– Tangier Med ( Algeria)

Almeria (Andalucia)
- Ghazaouet (Algeria)
- Melilla (Spanish exclave in Morocco)
- Nador (Morocc0)
- Oran (Algeria)

Arrecife (Lanzarote, Canary Islands)
- Cadiz (Costa De La luz)
- Las Palmas (Gran Canary)

Barcelona (Catalonia)
- Alcudia (Mallorca, Balearic Islands)
- Ciutadella (Menorca, Balearic Islands)
- Civitavecchia (Italy)
- Formentera (Balearic Islands)
- Genoa (Italy)
- Ibiza (Balearic Islands)
- Mahon (Menorca, Balearic Islands)
- Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands)
- Porto Torres (Italy, Sardinia)
- Tangier Med ( Algeria)

Bilbao
- Portsmouth (UK)

Denia ( Costa Blanca)
- Formentera  (Balearic Islands)
- Ibiza (Balearic Islands)
- Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands)

Formentera (Balearic Islands)
- Barcelona (Catalonia)
- Denia (Costa Blanca)
- Ibiza (Balearic Islands)

Huelva (Huelva, Southern Spain)
- Las Palmas (Canary Islands)
- Santa Cruz De Tenerife (Canary Islands)

 

Ibiza (Balearic Islands)
- Barcelona (Catalonia)
- Denia (Costa Blanca)
- Formentera (Balearic Islands)
- Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands)
- Valencia (East Coast of Spain)

Las Palmas
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands)
- Arrecife
- Cadiz (Costa De La luz)
- Huelva (Huelva, Southern Spain

Mahon (Menorca, Balearic Islands)
- Barcelona (Catalonia)
- Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands)
- Valencia (East Coast of Spain)

Ciutadella (Menorca, Balearic Islands)
- Alcudia (Mallorca, Baleric Islands)
- Barcelona (Catalonia)

Malaga
- Melilla
Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands)
- Barcelona (Catalonia)
- Denia (Costa Blanca)
- Ibiza (Balearic Islands)
- Mahon (Menorca, Balearic Islands)
- Valencia (East Coast of Spain)

Santa Cruz De La Palma
(La Palma, Canary Islands)

- Cadiz (Costa De La luz)

Santa Cruz De Tenerife
(Tenerife, Canary Islands)

- Cadiz (Costa De La luz)
- Huelva (Huelva, Southern Spain

Santander (North Coast of spain)
- Portmouth (UK)
- Plymouth (UK)

Valencia (East Coast of Spain)
- Ibiza (Baleriac Islands)
- Mahon (Menorca, Balearic Islands)
- Palma (Mallorca, Balearic Islands)

Cadiz (Costa De La Luz)
- Arrecife (Lanzarote, Canary Islands )
- Las Palmas (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands)
- Santa Cruz de La Palma (La Palma, Canary Islands)
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Tenerife, Canary Islands)

Car ferries have long operated across the Strait of Gibraltar.

They operate on these routes:

  • Algeciras – Tangier
  • Tarifa – Tangier
  • Algeciras – Ceuta

The ferry traffic has an established base of customers, useful to calculate the number of users for a fixed link.

The Strait of Gibraltar crossing is a hypothetical bridge or tunnel spanning the Strait of Gibraltar(about 14 km or 9 miles at its narrowest point) that would connect Europe and Africa. The governments of Spain and Morocco appointed a joint committee to investigate the feasibility of linking the two continents in 1979, which resulted in the much broader Euromed Transport project.

Airlines based in Spain